Seven-year-old Talia Spindelman of Pittsford pours water for Sam Falzone of Rochester as members of Temple Beth El serve a Christmas meal at the dining center at Asbury First United Methodist Church.

For dozens of members of Temple Beth El, who prepared and served a Christmas Day dinner at the Asbury Dining and Caring Center. Festive meals for those in need were likewise offered throughout the region at locations including Rochester's Open Door Mission, Patty's Place in Canandaigua, the Williamson Presbyterian Church in Wayne County and the Holley Community Loaf and Ladle at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Holley, Orleans County.

While we're at it, to the thousands of local employees who punched the clock on Christmas Day. Sure, some of them likely don't celebrate the holiday. But many do, or have friends and family who do and with whom they could have spent the day. Emergency responders, hospital staffs, hotel and restaurant workers - the list goes on - deserve holiday thanks.

For UPS and FedEx for failing to deliver many Christmas packages by Dec. 25. The chains blamed bad weather and a huge last-minute influx. That's fair, but critics say they should have been better prepared, especially with online shopping steadily climbing. Last-minute shoppers, who share in the blame, would be wise to place orders earlier.

For area clergyman Peter Van Lieshout, who assisted Pope Francis at this week's Christmas midnight Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Van Lieshout is a Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester seminarian and a deacon in St. Matthew's parish in Livonia, Livingston County.

For longtime public servant Darryl Porter, who is among those leaving office next week as part of the change of administrations at City Hall. Porter, who served under former Mayor Bob Duffy and was Mayor Tom Richards' Assistant to the Mayor, was also a longtime city school board member.

For the New York Apple Association for donating more than $3,400 to the West Webster Volunteer Firemen's Association. The Victor, Ontario County-based organization, which raised the funds via sponsorships in the ING New York City Marathon, also donated $1,565 to Feeding America.

For the massive breach of data at retailer Target, which compromised some 40 million credit card and debit card accounts. Target offered 10 percent discounts and free credit monitoring to affected customers. What's really needed are assurances of tighter security.

For random acts of kindness, an epidemic of which seems to be underway locally. Whether it's picking up the tab for strangers at a restaurant, chipping in with grocery bills when a shopper has forgotten their wallet, or paying for the coffee order of the motorist behind in the drive-through line, Rochesterians are aggressively paying it forward. Here's to more such kindnesses in 2014!

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Christmas was a bit merrier for many in the community, thanks to caring friends and neighbors.